Soldering-machine.



S. F. BOWSER. SOLDERING MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED JAN.12, 1911.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHBETS--SHEET 1.

S. F. BOWSER.

SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12, m1.

Patented, Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mm w v s THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTUVLITHOY. WASHINGTON, D. Cv

UNITED STATES SYLVANUS .E. BOWSER, 015 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 S. F. BOWSER & COM- PAN'Y, INCORPORATED, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SOLDEEING-MACI-IINE.

Application filed January 12, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVANUS F. Bowsnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soldering- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in soldering machines particularly adapted for use in soldering the ends or heads of cylindrical tanks or receptacles, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved, simple and efficient machine of this character in which the solder will be dis tributed to the point at which it is to be used by the action of centrifugal force created by the rotation of the tank.

A further object is to provide improved means for supporting and rotating the tank and improved means whereby the speed of rotation thereof may be varied.

A further object is to provide improved means for heating the joint or portion to be soldered, and improved means for cooling the same.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, as will appear, the invention consists substantially in the features of novelty hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of an improved machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and showing a portion of a tank in section, in position in the machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional. view taken on line 22, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the tank removed. Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view partly in elevation and partly in section, of one set of the driving gears for imparting rotation to the tank. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the driving gears and the clutch mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings and in the present exemplification of the invention the numeral 10 designates a supporting base for the structure at one end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914:-

Serial No. 602,224.

of which is located a rotatable support 11, which latter preferably comprises a table and is mounted for rotation upon a bearing 12, which latter preferably extends above the base 10. The support 11 may be of any desired size but is preferably of a diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the tank or receptacle and projecting radially from the support 11 are a plurality of arms or fingers 13 which serve as an additional means of support for the tank or receptacle end. The support 11 is adapted to be rotated in its bearing in any suitable manner but preferably by means of a gear 11 which is secured thereto and for rotation therewith, and motion is imparted to this gear 14 by means of an intermeshing gear 15 which latter is secured to and for rotation with a shaft 16 mounted in suitable bearings preferably at one end by means of a bearing 17 formed in the support or hearing 12.

Arranged so as to encompass the support 11 is an annular member or chamber 18 preferably in the form of a tube or pipe, projecting from the inner face of which are a plurality of nozzles or burners 19 so arranged as to direct the flame toward the support 11. This annular member is preferably of considerably larger diameter than the diameter of the support 11 so that when a tank or receptacle 20 is placed upon the support 11 with the head or end 21 thereof resting upon the support, the outer circumference of the tank will stand in close proximity to the burners or nozzles 19 so that the flame from the latter will be directed against and will impinge the end of the tank or receptacle.

The annular chamber 18 is supplied with fuel, preferably, gas, from any suitable source of supply through a pipe 22, one end of which has communication with the annular chamber 18 as at 23, while a branch pipe 24 leads from the pipe 22 and has communication as at 25 with the annular chamber 18. A quick acting valve 26 is provided in the pipe 22 and controls the discharge of fuel into the chamber 18. A pilot tube 27 leads from the pipe 22 and terminates adjacent the burners 19 and since this tube leads from the pipe 22 from a position beyond the valve 26, it is continually kept burning. Thus it will be seen that when the valve 26 is opened,- the burners 19 will be supplied with fuel and they will con tinue to burn while the support 11 and the tank or receptacle is rotated so as to heatthe joint formed between the tank and the end. This joint is treated with the usual soldering flux and solder is supplied to the joint preferably in the form of balls 28, shown more clearly in Fig. 2, which are placed within the tank. When the tank is rotated the centrifugal force created thereby will throw the solder balls 28 toward the wall of the tank or receptacle and they will be distributed around the joint formed between the wall and the end. The centrifugal force thus holding the solder in position, it will be apparent that as the tank is rotated while the flame fro-1n the burners is being directed against the tank, the heat generated will cause the solder to melt ant flow into the joint. After the solder has melted, the speed of rotation of the tank may be gradually decreased and the flame extinguished.

In order to cool the solder while the tank is being rotated so as to cause it to maintain its proper position and to prevent the soft solder from flowing out of place, any suitable means may be provided for directing a cooling fluid against the solder portion of the tank. A suitable andefficient means for accomplishing this result will now be described.

An air pipe 29 which receives its supply of air from any suitable source is provided and one end of this pipe has communication as at 30 with a portion of the gas pipe 22 beyond the valve 26 therein toward the end 23 thereof. A branch pipe 31 leading from the pipe 29 has at 22 communication with the branch pipe 24, leading from the pipe 22. A quick acting valve 33 is pro vided in the pipe 29 for controlling the discharge of air. It will thus be manifest that when it is desired to supply the annular chamber 18 with fuel to heat the tank, the valve 33 must first be closed and the valve 26 opened. When it is desired to extinguish the flame and cool the tank, the valve 26 must first be closed and the valve 33 opened. When this latter valve is opened it will be manifest that the annular chamber 18 instead of being supplied with fuel for the burners will be supplied with cold air, which latter will be directed through the burners 19 and against the heated por-.,

tion of the tank.

As has been before stated the support 11 is adapted for a variable speed of rotation and any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing this end. A simple and eflicient means will now be described.

Arranged preferably at the other end of the base 10 is a motor 34 on the shaft of which is provided a gear 35 and this gear 35 meshes with gears 36, 37, secured respectively to shafts 38, 39, mounted in bearings 40, 41. Secured to the shaft 38 and for rota tion therewith is a worm gear 42 and secured to and for rotation with the shaft 39 is a worm gear 43, which latter is preferably of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the gear 42. I

The other extremity of-the shaft 16 projects beneath the shafts 38, 39, and preferably in line with the gears 42, 43. This extremity of the shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 44, 45, and loosely sleeved on the shaft are worm gears 46, 47, oneof which is disposed adjacent each of the gears 42, 43, so as to respectively mesh therewith. The gear 46 is of a diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the gear 47. These gears 46, 47, are respectively provided with hubs 48, 49, which project toward and are spaced from each other, and keyed to the shaft 16 so as to be longitudinally adj usted thereon is a collar 50. Thus gears 46, 47, are adapted to be locked or unlocked with respect to the shaft 16 according to the speed of rotation desired and any suitable means may be provided for this purpose. A simple and eflicient means comprises the sleeve or collar 50 which is adapted to be shifted longitudinally on the shaft 16 by means of an operating lever 51 pivoted as at 52 to a support 53 and which is arranged in a convenient position for the operator. This lever 51 has connection as at 54 with the sleeve 50 so that when the lever is rocked about its pivot 52 it will move the sleeve toward or away from one or the other of the gears 46, 47. Each of the hubs 48, 49, of the gears 46, 47, in the present exemplification is provided with a spring arm or finger 55 projecting beyond the end thereof and in such position that when the end of the sleeve or collar 50 is adjusted toward the respective gears 46, 47 the end of the sleeve or collar will pass under the respective arms or fingers 55 so that the latter will form frictional contact therewith and thereby lock the respective gears to the shaft 16.

Obviously when the tank is first placed upon the support 11 and it is desired to solder, the tank must be rotated at the highest rate of speed so that the centrifugal force will throw the solder elements 28 into their positions so that when melted they will flow into the joint. When the solder has been melted, and the soldering operation is completed, the high speed is thrown off and the low speed thrown on, which latter will rotate the tank sufiiciently to prevent the soft solder from flowing out of position and while the blast of cooling fluid is being directed against the tank. Obviously the annular chamber 18 may be supported and held in position in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of a support 56.

What is claimed as new is 1. A' soldering machine for tank ends comprising a rotatable plane support for the tank, a continuous encircling tubular member with inwardly opening perforations therein in the plane of the support for feeding fuel to heat the circumference of the tank at the bottom, and a separately controlled tubular member connected to the first mentioned tubular member to supply a cooling fluid to the circumference of the tank through the said perforations of the first named tubular member.

2. In a soldering machine for tank ends, the combination of a base member, a rotatable support smaller in diameter than the end of the tank to be soldered, a stationary hollow annular member larger than the tank end with perforations on the inside thereof, a support to hold the annular memher in the plane of the tank end to be soldered, a valve to control a supply of fuel to the annular member, a tubular member connected to the annular member for supplying a cooling fluid thereto, and a valve to control the supply of cooling fluid to the annular member independently of the other valve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this ninth day of January A. D. 1911.

SYLVAN US F. BOWSER.

Witnesses:

J. H. JOCHUM, Jr.,

R. E. FLEMING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Wuhlngton, D. O. 

